The symposium on strengthening diversified investment in fundamental research was held in Beijing on December 16, 2018. 

 

Hunan Provincial People’s Government and National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) representatives sign the agreement. 

 

A symposium on strengthening diversified investment in fundamental research was held in Beijing on December 16, 2018. The National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)’s Regional/Enterprise Innovative Development Joint Fund was established. Hunan, one of the first four provinces involved, signed an agreement with NSFC. 

 

Chinese Science and Technology Minister Wang Zhigang, NSFC Director, Li Jinghai, Vice Governor, Chen Fei, and Party Leadership Group Secretary of the Hunan Department of Science and Technology, Tong Xudong, were present. 

 

The fund aims to play NSFC’s guiding role in elevating China’s regional innovation ability. Priorities will be given to solving urgent and major requirements in regional development; attracting advanced researchers nationwide to engage in fundamental research; and, promoting cross-department, cross-industry, and cross-region coordination in innovation. 

 

The fund will encourage outstanding researchers to probe into the major economic, social, and sci-tech development problems, and key technical challenges in Hunan and surrounding regions. 

 

In the next five years (2019-2023), NSFC and Hunan Government will put 80 million CNY every year into fundamental research, in the fields of ecological agriculture, modern seed industry, new materials, and independent and controllable information system. 

 

Hunan’s involvement in the fund will be helpful to gather more young technology talents, enhance its fundamental research and original innovation ability, improve its comprehensive strength in scientific and technological innovation, and provide innovative reserves for economic and social development. 

 

Hunan will carry out the joint fund agreement as a priority in its implementation of the innovation-oriented opening up and development strategy and construction of an innovative province, so as to facilitate Hunan’s high-quality development. 

 

This article is from Hunan Provincial Government. www.enghunan.gov.cn.

 

Translator: Pang Yuehui

 

Chinese source: hn.xinhuanet.com